Professional course requirements

Students accepted into professional courses require a number of checks to be completed before they can register onto their course. The regulatory bodies governing your course require all applicants to undergo a DBS check and a "fitness to practice" assessment in the form of a medical questionnaire. In addition, students on certain courses are required to show evidence of immunisations and proof of having completed CPR training.

Starting in early May, the Medical Questionnaire and Immunisation Cards are mailed out to students who have obtained an offer to their course. Instructions are included in the package on how to fill out the required documents and where to forward the completed forms.

For more information on your DBS application, acceptable DBS ID documents, Medical Questionnaire or Immunisation Card please see the information below the table.

Pre-Registration checks required for each course

DBS Check

Criminal Conviction Disclaimer

Medical Questionnaire

Immunisation Card

CPR Training

Occupational Therapy

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

Physiotherapy

✔

✔

✔

✔

Social Work

✔

✔

✔

Education

✔

✔

✔

Physician Associate (MSc)

✔

✔

✔

✔

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

As part of the admissions process to join one of Brunel University London’s Professional courses, you are required to complete an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced certificate, previously known as a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).

Applications are completed online and the first step is to complete a face to face ID check. You are then required to make a payment for your application, the cost of a DBS application is currently £51.86 (this fee is subject to change). Only then will you be given access to the online DBS application.

In order to complete the ID check you will need to visit the Admissions Office or attend an ID checking event. Further details regarding the DBS application and ID checking events will be sent to applicants in May.

Professional Course Interviews

If you are applying for Teacher Training, a course in Social Work, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy or Physicians Associate you will be asked to bring your DBS ID documents with you to your interview and we will complete your ID check then.

ID Documents

For further advice regarding the valid ID documents we can accept for the DBS disclosure application, please see the 'ID checking documents' tab below.

If you are making an application for the DBS certificate as a volunteer, Student Ambassador or a Widening Participation Ambassador you do not have to pay for your application. However if you are applying for a DBS certificate as part of your PhD or dissertation you will have to cover this cost, please contact the Admissions Office if you have any questions.

To subscribe you will need your DBS application reference number. This number is generated when you submit the online application, please contact dbs@brunel.ac.uk if you require it.

If you currently hold a DBS Certificate and are registered with their update service, please get in touch with us. You will need to arrange a time to come in to present your certificate and sign a consent form so we can check your status online.

Please note this option is not intended for all students who currently hold a DBS certificate, only those who are registered with the DBS Update service.

If you are applying to a professional course and do not complete the ID check at your interview, selection day or induction event, you will be required to attend a DBS ID checking session in the Admissions Office.

DBS ID check drop in

You can complete the ID check by visiting the Applicant Enquiries and Admissions office, Bannerman Centre, room 213 (second floor), between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

You do not need to book an appointment but you may wish to confirm your attendance by sending an email to dbs@brunel.ac.uk. Please also include your full name and student number.

You are only required to pay for your DBS application if you are undertaking a course in Teaching, Physician Associate or Social work.

If you have applied for a Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy course the DBS fee will be covered by the University if you are NHS funded or are a Home student for fee purposes. If you are an EU or international student for fee purposes you will be required to pay for the DBS.

If you are unsure or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Office on 01895 265265 or by email at DBS@brunel.ac.uk

The DBS application currently costs £51.86 (if you are in the UK, and £62.86 if you are applying from outside the UK, this amount is subject to change. The payment is non refundable and the payment must be made before we can send you your DBS application log in information.

All payments must be made through the University cash office at least two working days prior to attending any ID checking session.

How to make the payment:

Online payment

We recommend you make the payment online, by logging into the eVision student application portal. Once you have logged in you should go to the 'My application' section, scroll down to 'application details' and select the ‘View details’ button at the bottom of the page. If you have an eVision account that has been converted from an applicant to student profile, then the task can be found in the 'my Checklist' tab. Then select the 'DBS Check Payment' option and follow the instructions

Paying by cheque

Cheques can be paid in to the cash office in person or be sent in to the cash office by post. Cheques should be made payable to Brunel University London. Please be sure to enclose a cover letter with your name, course and student number (this is your 7 digit student ID number), not your UCAS/UTT ID along with the cheque.

Paying by cash

Cash payments can only be accepted in person at the cash office.

Paying by credit/debit card

Credit/Debit card payments can be accepted in person at the cash office. You can also pay by phone by calling the Cash Office on 01895 265264, between the hours of 9.15am to 1pm and 2.15pm to 4.15pm (Telephone payments only). You will need to quote your Brunel University student number. Please do not send any credit/debit card details in the post.

Once payment has been complete you will be given a receipt, if you have paid over the phone this receipt will be sent to you in the post and we will need to see it at the ID checking session. Please keep this receipt in a safe place as without confirmation of payment we will not be able to complete your DBS check fully and this may delay your registration.

The Cash Office is located on the ground floor of the Bannerman Centre, their opening hours for visitors are Monday to Friday from 9.15am to 1pm. The Cash Office does not open for visitors in the afternoon or at weekends, but you can make a payment over the phone.

A document from Central / Local Government / Government Agency / Local Authority giving entitlement (UK and Channel Islands) e.g. from the Department of Work & Pensions, the Employment Service, Customs & Revenue, Job Centre, Job Centre Plus, Social Security. This includes National Insurance Number issue letter.

Bank / Building Society Account Opening Confirmation Letter (UK)

The following documents must have been issued within the past 12 months:

Mortgage Statement (UK)

Financial Statement e.g. pension, endowment, ISA (UK)

P45 / P60 statement (UK)

Council Tax Statement (UK)

Work Permit / VISA (UK), (UK Residence Permit)

The following documents must still be valid:

EU National ID card

Cards carrying the PASS accreditation logo (UK)

If you are unable to provide sufficient documentation from the list, please contact the Admissions Office on 01895 265265 or email DBS@brunel.ac.uk

Criminal Conviction Disclaimer

All applicants to professional courses must complete the Criminal Conviction Disclaimer. The disclaimer can be completed in through your eVision account.

Once you are logged into your eVision account, click on the “my Application” tab, then click on the ‘View Details’ button for your course.

Click on the ’Criminal Conviction Disclaimer’ button to start the task.

Disclaimer Information

Students on professional courses that will be requiring a DBS check must provide details of all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings that would not be filtered in line with current guidance.

Students who are unsure whether they should declare a past offense are advised to contact Unlock, an independent charity who will provide advice for people with criminal convictions.

The amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected' and are not subject to disclosure. Guidance and criteria for these convictions and cautions can be found on the DBS website.

If you have any trouble completing the task or any questions please contact Admissions: dbs@brunel.ac.uk

Medical Questionnaire & Declaration of Health

The medical questionnaire addresses your general health and any medical condition that might prevent you from practising your chosen profession. If you have a disability that you would like assistance with, you can declare it directly to our Disability & Dyslexia service, who will help make provision for any adjustments that you might require.

The Medical Questionnaire is completed online and instructions will be sent to you by email once you hold an Unconditional Firm offer of a place.

You must complete the questionnaire by the deadline in order to have sufficient time for your "fitness to practice" assessment to be completed before registration.

Deadline for submission:

Friday 1st September for Teacher Training applicants

Friday 8th September 2017 for those applying for Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Physician Associate or Social Work. You will need to complete the questionnaire before you can register on the course. If you do not complete the questionnaire by the required date, your registration may be delayed.

Declaration of Health

As part of the admissions process onto programmes such as Education, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Social Work and the Physician Associate course, it is important that the University receives comprehensive information concerning a student’s health and fitness, to ensure as far as possible that the student is in the best position to commence upon and benefit from such a course of study. Studying for and working within these professions can be demanding - intellectually, emotionally and physically – and requires the student to meet prescribed standards of performance that support eligibility to eventually register and practice as an education, health or social care professional.

Outlined below are the principle reasons why we require you to make a full declaration of your health status and needs. This will enable the University to meet its obligations to you as a student, to the health and social care professions it is educating you for, and to other students and the general public. Please read this information carefully and complete the attached health declaration as fully as possible.

Attendance requirements: For pre-registration programmes in Education, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Physician Associate and Social Work, students are expected to attend 100% of the practical / tutorial / seminar sessions in academic modules and 100% of placement modules throughout their course of study; this is considered essential to developing safe practice. However, it is recognised some students, due to exceptional circumstances may not always meet this target. In such circumstances decisions will be made on an individual case by case basis. This does not preclude students with disabilities or other identified needs from studying for these awards. Instead it is important to plan reasonable and timely adjustments to enable such students to meet these demands.

Participation in activities: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Physician Associate and Social Work students are required to participate in roles such as patients or clients for some practical and experiential group work sessions. All students are fully informed of procedures before any sessions and during Induction week they are required to sign a summary consent form, but again, if there is any potential that a health issue might impact upon such participation it is important that the University is aware as early as possible.

Communicable diseases: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Physician Associate and Social Work students will be required to spend a minimum of 1000 hours involved in placements, in either hospitals or within the wider community. As such, they may come into contact with clients who have infectious conditions or with clients who are vulnerable to infections that students may be carrying. Although students are required to provide evidence of immunisation status as part of the admissions process, broader health information is important in order that we might identify any further need to protect students and/or vulnerable groups if necessary.

Professional suitability: As soon as a student enrols onto a health or social care professions programme (e.g. Teacher Education, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Physician Associate or Social Work), he/she becomes subject to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct of the relevant profession, for the duration of the programme and the rest of his/her professional career. These codes require the highest standards of personal conduct, honesty and integrity, in academic, professional and personal life, and also the ability of a student or practitioner to make insightful and appropriate judgements about their abilities to undertake the responsibilities required of them. There may be circumstances where, through no fault of the student’s, these demands are difficult to meet due in part to a health condition, and therefore advance notification of health needs can assist the University in identifying and supporting the student in such circumstances.

Immunisation Card

Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy

In May we will be sending immunisation cards and instructions to all applicants holding Unconditional Firm and Conditional Firm offers on a Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy or Physicians Associate course. If you have not received your immunisation packs by June please contact the Admissions Office and we will arrange for another pack to be sent to you.

All immunisations are mandatory. Students will not go out on placement if they have not completed all the listed immunisations.

The immunisation card needs to be taken to the student’s GP/Practice nurse to be completed, signed & stamped. Print outs of from your GP or other clinics WILL NOT be accepted – each immunisation section must have a verifying signature, date and stamp on the card.

The completed immunisation card must be returned by Friday 1 September2017. If you are not able to complete the card by this date please bring it with you to the Induction week (17th – 21st September).

Clinics

In the event that your GP cannot provide you with the required vaccinations, we have listed several clinics that provide all the required vaccinations / blood tests:

Hepatitis B

This requires 3 vaccines administered over a period of 6 months. At least the first vaccination should be completed prior to enrolment in September – please note this is an Occupational Health immunisation which your GP cannot provide on the NHS, and you will have to pay privately or visit a clinic for the vaccine. Three doses are required and the average cost per dose is £30.

Tetanus and Polio

You must have had a current booster within the last 10 years that will be valid up to September next year or have five documented vaccinations giving long term immunity. These documents must have the dates provided and signed off. Normally only one dose is required and it is free on the NHS.

BCG (Tuberculosis / TB)

If your GP can verify that you have received this vaccination via your medical records, or they are able to verify a BCG scar on your arm as proof of immunisation, then they can sign and stamp this section on the card. If you do not have a scar or vaccine confirmation in your medical records please speak to your GP about how to have a Mantoux test. Please note you will most likely have to pay a fee for this test and you may have to go to a local hospital. Prices vary by clinic but the average price of a Mantoux Test is £55 and the BCG is £50 on average.

If the outcome of the Mantoux test is negative you will need to have the BCG vaccination (this can be arranged via your GP or a travel clinic).

Rubella and Measles

If your GP can verify by your medical records that you have received a vaccination (MMR or Rubella), or you have immunity due to having had either virus, they can sign the relevant section on the card confirming this.

If immunity for either both or one of these cannot be confirmed by your medical records you must have a blood test to confirm immunity and your GP must sign the card to confirm immunity once you have received your results. Some GP's will offer the Measles/Rubella or MMR vaccine free on the NHS, private/travel clinic costs average between £45 - £60 per dose.

Chicken Pox (varicella zoster)

If your medical records verify that you have had the virus and are therefore immune, your GP can sign the relevant section on the card. However, if immunity cannot be confirmed by your medical records you must have a blood test. If your blood test result is negative you will need to have the varicella zoster vaccinee and your GP should then sign the card to confirm immunity. The VZV chicken pox vaccine costs £65-85 per dose and 2 doses are required.

Please note the average cost of vaccinations has been provided. These are subject to change and can vary from clinic to clinic.

CPR Training

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Training is mandatory for all students entering the Occupational Therapy degree courses to have up to date CPR training.

Certificate of training

You will need to have a certificate that demonstrates you have completed practical cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. It needs to be carried out in the last 12 months and cover all the allocated placement periods. You will therefore need to update this training annually.

You must provide evidence of CPR training or a CPR refresher course when you commence your study in September. This evidence must be provided before you undertake your first practice placement in March (BSc) / April 2016 (MSc).

To be valid whilst you are out on placement this training must have been undertaken between 1 May and the last day of Term 1.

It will be your responsibility to arrange this training as we do not provide any training sessions. If necessary you will have time available (independent study time) during Term 1 to arrange and complete the training if you are unable to do so before commencing the programme.

If you have attended training already you will need to attend a refresher course within the above date range and supply evidence of this.

CPR training sessions available

Below are some websites that you might want to look at to identify a possible course. Please note we require you to have had practical CPR training, so if in any doubt do get in touch with them to confirm this. This is local based company (to campus) who students have used previously: www.firstaidbushey.co.uk